Season’s Change

It’s that time of year again…the days are getting shorter, leaves are falling and there’s a chill in the Bellingham air. What’s that mean? It means winter is just around the corner, and we’ve got the gear you need for any cold weather adventure.

For the hardcore cyclists,  we’re stocking up on baselayers, shoe covers, rainwear and lighting systems. Stay warm, dry and visible when the dark and rainy days arrive. We’ve got great apparel from Gore, Specialized and Ibex, while Light & Motion and Serfas will keep you illuminated on the lighting front.

For the two plankers we’ve got new skis in stock from Armada (including the much-anticipated Bubba), Atomic and Dynafit. The latest Salomon skis should be landing any day now.

2012/13 snowboards from Arbor and Neversummer have arrived, including the new Arbor Abacus splitboard with Karakoram attachment hardware.  We also have outerwear from Trew, Mountain Equipment and the Burton AK line.

Dividend checks came out this week, so you hopefully have a little extra funding to help you get prepared for winter. We’ve also extended our hours – we’re here until 8pm Monday – Friday, 6 on Saturday and 5 on Sundays. See you soon!

Mt. Baker Ski Area – 3 of Our Favorite Things

Mt. Baker Ski Area is unique in this age of glitzy, cookie-cutter ski resorts. At Baker it’s about the skiing (or snowboarding), and that’s why we love it. You can’t buy a fur coat or a diamond ring at the base area, which is how how we think it should be. To show our appreciation, we’ve started a list of our favorite things about skiing at Mt. Baker.

Snow:
Mt. Baker Ski Area is legendary for the amount of snowfall they receive each year. With an average annual snowfall of 701 inches, even a low snow year beats most Colorado ski resorts by 100+ inches. And the snow that falls on Baker is amazing – it might not be the lightest, but the way it cakes onto the mountain, forming pillows and spines everywhere you look, is unbeatable. As the season progresses gullies and ravines fill in, and the shape of the Mountain evolves. Massive storms roll off the Pacific, dumping enough snow to transform the slopes. It’s like shaking an etch-a-sketch – the slopes are covered with a thick layer of fresh snow, a blank canvas for skiers and snowboarders to leave their marks. Visit Mt. Baker and you’re almost guaranteed to need powder skis, the fatter the better.

Trees:

The trees at Mt. Baker are massive – giant Douglas Firs and cedars reach for the sky, as if taunting the weather, daring the storms to try and topple them. Trees are the key to having a good time when a storm is raging. Duck into the trees and the visibility instantly improves – just aim for the spaces and you’ll be fine. The next time you take a run through the trees off of Chair 7, take a moment to look around. Stop and look up. And up. Fresh powder and tall, old growth trees – it doesn’t get much better.

Terrain:

The topography of the North Cascades is the same as a crumpled up piece of paper. Jagged peaks, deep valleys – all the ingredients necessary for excellent skiing. The inbounds terrain at Mt. Baker Ski Area is great – there are innumerable short, steep lines – it’s like mini-golf for the expert skier. Pick a line, ski it, and move on to the next one. And, while the inbounds terrain is excellent, if you have the knowledge and the skills, as well as an avalanche beacon, shovel, probe and partner, the backcountry terrain is even better. You could spend a lifetime exploring the mountain around the ski area. Shuksan, Herman, Mt. Ruth, Mt. Baker…the list goes on. Take a class, learn how to stay safe, and start exploring.

And More…

That’s the beginning of our list…What do you have to add? Partial to the Man Pies at the base lodge? Like the sayings on the lift tickets? Tell us below, or let us know on Facebook or Twitter.